For the MRO & Inventory Manager

The MRO Manager's Guide to Inventory Accuracy & Balance

Last updated July 2026

The short answer

To improve inventory accuracy and balance, reconcile book-to-physical, then rebalance stock so each branch holds what its demand actually needs. Maintained gives one live view across every DC and recommends the transfers that fix imbalance before you buy new.

What you're measured on

Speak in days of supply, slow-mover report, reorder point, and 'what's it worth.'

  • Cycle-count accuracy
  • Days of supply
  • Slow-mover %
  • Pick accuracy
  • Shrinkage

Where the value is

  • One live view of stock and value across every branch and DC
  • Reconcile book-to-physical to kill phantom stockouts
  • Rebalance to the branch that needs it before buying
  • Protect the counter sale and the fill rate

The pains this removes

  • Slow, obsolete, idle SKUs nobody decides to liquidate
  • Reorder points set once and forgotten
  • No valuation for surplus
  • Spreadsheets and gut feel

The numbers behind it

20–30%
AI-driven optimization can cut inventory 20–30% while holding service levels, and reduce forecasting error up to 50%.
Epicor / MDM
$1.77T
Inventory distortion — stockouts plus overstock — cost an estimated $1.77 trillion in 2023, about 7.2% of retail sales.
Planster / IHL
83%
83% of distribution executives have implemented AI in at least one function, up from 35% in 2023.
Epicor

Frequently asked questions

How should a MRO Manager approach improve inventory accuracy and balance across branches?

Speak in days of supply, slow-mover report, reorder point, and 'what's it worth.' To improve inventory accuracy and balance, reconcile book-to-physical, then rebalance stock so each branch holds what its demand actually needs. Maintained gives one live view across every DC and recommends the transfers that fix imbalance before you buy new.

What outcome should a MRO Manager expect?

Right part, right branch, right time — one view across every DC. One live view of stock and value across every branch and DC

See what your inventory is really costing you.

Tell us where the cash is trapped — excess stock, idle surplus, slow RFQs — and we'll show you the outcome Maintained can unlock.